This could include a dashboard allowing parents to monitor what their children are watching to give them peace of mind.

In US law, web companies have to adhere to the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, which means parental consent is needed for those under 13 who wish to sign up to things - leading many minors to lie.

The move could also extend to other Google products such as Gmail.

It is not clear when - and if - the service will launch, although the Wall Street Journal adds that Google was developing a child version of YouTube suited to tablet computers earlier this year.